Confused about all the different types of cleanses out there? The concept of cleansing in general can be completely foreign to many people. Add on conflicting information on the Internet and so many options to choose from and it’s no surprise that there can be misunderstandings about cleansing, how cleansing works, or how to complete a successful cleanse. For health-informed consumers, Isagenix offers a different approach to nutritional cleansing that is supported by clinical studies. A key difference in cleansing with Isagenix is intermittent fasting. The scientifically supported system incorporates intermittent fasting on Cleanse Days and calorie restriction on Shake Days.
The combination of Cleanse and Shake Days is shown to be more effective than traditional dieting for initial weight loss and weight maintenance (1). When used as directed in our system guidelines, Isagenix products including Cleanse for Life® as part of Cleanse Days and IsaLean® Shake as part of Shake Days have demonstrated excellent results.
Cleanse for Life 101
Intermittent fasting is the term used for an eating pattern that involves the regular abstinence from normal foods and meals. Fasting normally is performed for a period of one or two days per week or month.
While weight loss or weight maintenance is seen as a primary benefit from intermittent fasting, the practice has demonstrated efficacy for reducing abdominal fat (visceral fat) and, as a result, an improvement in insulin sensitivity and overall cardiovascular health (1-3).
Additionally, research has found that fasting initiates the recycling of old and dysfunctional components of cells through enzymatic pathways termed “autophagy” (4). Autophagy is thought of as a cellular self-cleaning mechanism that is suggested to have benefits for overall health.
Cleanse for Life is the nutritional support that is considered a key distinction of intermittent fasting with Isagenix. Its inclusion is what defines Cleanse Days and separates them from normal fasting completed only with water. The inclusion of the drink as a Cleanse Day companion provides nutrient-packed benefits along with a greater chance for a successful cleanse. Cleanse for Life contains a mixture of botanical extracts and nutrients to support detoxification. This proprietary blend is especially designed for use in conjunction with intermittent fasting. With its addition of turmeric and ashwagandha, Cleanse for Life is shown to be effective in studies for influencing antioxidant and detoxification pathways in cells (5). The support for the Healthy Body’s own antioxidant and detoxification systems offers a complete cleanse experience and better overall health.
How to Use Cleanse for Life
Cleanse for Life is available in both a liquid concentrate and powder form. It’s consumed either as a concentrated shot or diluted with water. Additionally, it can be served chilled, poured over ice, or mixed with hot (but not boiling) water to be enjoyed as a hot tea.
The product can be taken every day for daily antioxidant and detoxification support or on Cleanse Days.
Daily Cleansing – As a daily supplement, directions for taking Cleanse for Life are to consume one to two fluid ounces or one scoop up to twice daily. There’s no wrong time to take Cleanse for Life. However, while it’s not so important when the product is taken, some report better results when taking a daily dose before they go to bed.
Deep Cleansing – Double the daily serving (four liquid ounces or two scoops) and take four times spread throughout the day. The four servings of Cleanse for Life on a Cleanse Day are designed to be accompanied by up to six Isagenix Snacks™ per day and plenty of water. Other optional Cleanse Day support products include taking one Natural Accelerator™ capsule twice daily, one to two IsaFlush® capsules, up to two IsaDelight® chocolates, up to two e+™ shots, Ionix® Supreme, t+ Chai, or up to four cups of black Isagenix Coffee.
Cleanse Day routines can vary among different participants, depending on individual goals. Some cleansers may also need to modify dietary intake on a Cleanse Day so that it includes more than suggested guidelines call for to support blood sugar control depending on their situation.
Those seeking weight loss can often find Cleanse Days intimidating or requiring quite a lot of effort. New cleansers are encouraged to take it easy—not immediately jumping into performing full Cleanse Days or two consecutive days of Deep Cleansing. Starting out with Shake Days allows for a more gradual reduction in calorie intake. Some may wish to attempt half a Cleanse Day before working up to a full Cleanse Day.
No Juices, Laxatives, or Diuretics
A common concern about cleansing is the involvement of either drastic starvation plans, use of sugary juices, or use of dangerous ingredients that act as laxatives and diuretics. There are no laxatives or diuretics in Cleanse for Life. Unlike other cleanses, the Isagenix System includes cleansing that is clinically shown to be effective and safe.
With the right preparation and a little self-motivation, participants are often pleasantly surprised at how effortless Cleanse Days can be. After seeing and feeling the results in the form of consistent weight loss and improved health, they may also find that Cleanse Days become the favorite part of their week.
References
- Klempel MC, Kroeger CM, Bhutani S, Trepanowski JF, Varady KA. Intermittent fasting combined with calorie restriction is effective for weight loss and cardio-protection in obese women. Nutr J. 2012 Nov 21;11:98.
- Harvie MN, Pegington M, Mattson MP et al. The effects of intermittent or continuous energy restriction on weight loss and metabolic disease risk markers: a randomized trial in young overweight women. Int J Obes (Lond) 2011;35:714-27.
- Heilbronn LK1, Smith SR, Martin CK, Anton SD, Ravussin E. Alternate-day fasting in nonobese subjects: effects on Healthy Body weight, Healthy Body composition, and energy metabolism. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jan;81(1):69-73.
- Bergamini E, Cavallini G, Donati A, Gori Z. The role of autophagy in aging: its essential part in the anti-aging mechanism of caloric restriction. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2007 Oct;1114:69-78.
- Gumpricht E, Kumar R, Hussain A, Sabarwal A, Ramteke A, Cho S, Deep G. A Natural Herbal Beverage Exhibits Significant Cytoprotection and Promotes Nrf-2 Activation in Cells April 2015 FASEB J 2015;29 (Supplement) Abstract # 607.1.
